Multi-level boat harbor



July 2, 1968 R. L. TOBEN MULTI-LEVEL BOAT HARBOR 2 Sheets-Shget 1 Filed April 18, 1966 INVENTOR ROBERT l .TOBEN ATTORNEY July 2, 1968 R. TOBEN MULTI-LEVEL BOAT HARBOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

Filed April 18, 1966 INVENTOR ROBERT L. TOBEN nmw v 1 din 35 .5358 z unflwri .M O Z AT TO RNEY United States Patent 3,390,530 MULTI-LEVEL BOAT HARBOR Robert L. Toben, 226 E. Ontario, Chicago, Ill. 60611 Filed Apr. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 543,163 Claims. (Cl. 61-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Multi-level harbor systems wherein hydraulically operated water-filled elevator cabs are used to transport ships between the different levels. Gates utilizing pneumatic seals control the fluid connection between the cab and the harbor facilities.

The present invention relates to an improved structure for the storage of boats and more particularly to a multilevel boat harbor.

It is a known fact that one of the most series drawbacks to boating has to do With the unavailability of proper docking or harbor facilities. Many attempts have been made to arrive at a solution to this dilemma. One of the most common expedients used in attempting to solve the problem has to do with providing multi-level storage means wherein the boats are stored at different levels in drydock. Such systems are disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 3,080,073 and 3,082,887. In both of these patents, the storage means for the boats necessitate initial removal of the boats from the water, mechanically raising the boats to an upper level and finally either suspending each boat on some sort of a hanger, or, removing each boat from the mechanical means for raising the boat and thereafter storing the boats in drydock. Thereafter, the same operations in reverse must be undertaken to return the boats to the water if it is desired to use the boats. This, of course, involves several steps and therefore expeditious and convenient storage or removal of the boats is precluded.

My invention obviates extra operations in storing a boat and thereafter readying the boat for use by providing a multi-level boat harbor having water therein at all of its levels. Still further, the boat harbor has a water filled elevator cab which initially receives the boats at the lower level of the boat harbor and raises the boats while retaining the boats buoyed therein with water. After the boats are raised to an upper level in the boat harbor, the elevator cab is opened and water from the upper level communicates with the elevator cab whereupon the boat can be moved to a preselected location by flotation rather than by mechanical handling of the boat. Thus with my new and improved structure I have obviated the necessity of mechanically handling the boat several times to store and ready the same for operation in addition to obviating the problems with regard to the lack of harbor space.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved multi-level boat harbor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a harboring facility With an increased capacity for a limited harbor area wherein the boats can be docked in the harbor without necessitating their removal from the water.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved harboring facility that has increased area for docking boats wherein entrance and egress to the docking facilities is accomplished expeditiously and conveniently without necessitating removal of the vessels from water.

Other and further object of this invention will become readily apparent from reading the description and claims in connection with the figures in the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my new and improved multi-level harboring facility;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken 3,390,530 Patented July 2, 1968 along a vertical plane passing through the elevator shaft of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the elevator cab illustrated in FIGURE 2 showing its relationship in elevation with an upper level of the boat harbor;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken along a plane passing through the line 44 in FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on a plane passing through the line 55 of FIGURE 3 and illustrating the relationship between the elevator cab and the gate means of the elevator shaft as they are opening;

FIGURE 6 is a modefied version of a means for elevating the boats in the multi-level boat harbor by means of using ascending water to raise the boats and descending water to lower the boats.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout, my multi-level boat harbor is generally designated by the character reference 10, as illustrated in FIG- URE 1. In the particular embodiment the boat harbor is illustrated with a first upper level 10a and a second upper level 10b. The harbor is preferably supported by cement columns 12 which extend upward vertically and are anchored in the bed 14 of the harbor. It should, of course, be realized that I contemplate the use of any number of upper levels in my invention, and although I merely show two levels, the scope of my invention is intended to include any number of levels. Moreover, I contemplate combining my multi-level boat harbor with other structures. For instance, my multi-level boat harbor could be disposed in the bottom of a building, or it could have sundeck on the top thereof. Also, the different levels of the harbor can be used for different purposes for seasonal changes such as, for instance, in the winter the levels could be used for ice skating or dry dock and repairs. Still further, the columns 12 of my boat harbor can be of different shapes to accommodate various mechanisms therein such as elevators or the like, in addition to supporting the different levels of the boat harbor.

In FIGURE 2 it is seen that the different upper levels 10a, 10b of the boat harbor are formed respectively with vertical walls 16, 17. The vertical walls 16, 17 extend around the periphery of their respective levels of the boat harbor for the purpose of containing water therein. Also the respective levels are provided with means for maintaining the water level thereof at a predetermined level. The float type level controls 18 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being attached to the walls 16, 17 in order that they can be positioned to contact the water in said upper levels. Valve mechanisms (not shown) can be operatively associated with the float type level controls to selectively drain water from the upper .levels when this is desired.

As is seen in FIGURE 2, the elevator shaft 19 is preferably anchored in the bed of the harbor at the bottom 19a thereof and extends vertically upward through or immediately adjacent to each of the upper levels of the boat harbor. As in the case of the columns and different levels of the boat harbor, the elevator shaft 19 can be constructed of cement. However, other well known materials are contemplated for use in the structure. Also, the elevator shaft 19 can be constructed any number of ways. In FIGURE 2, the elevator shaft is illustrated as having a solid vertical wall 20 which defines the outside of the elevator shaft and forms an enclosure for the elevator cab 22 so that it can be raised and lowered therein. It will be noted that the vertical wall 20 has openings at each water level for the purpose of allowing vessels to enter and leave the elevator shaft. At the water level of the boat harbor which is indicated by the character reference 24, the elevator shaft 19 has an opening 26 formed therein, which enables the vessels and water to flow therethrough.

The elevator cab 22 is mounted on a pair of reciprocatingly driven members so that the cab 22 can be raised or lowered. The driving means for the reciprocatingly driven members 28 can be any well known mechanisms, such as, for instance, they can be hydraulic or mechanical. However, they are not shown herein because of being so well known. Referring more in detail to the elevator cab 22 which is shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that the elevator cab is illustrated as being rectangular in shape to conform to the contour of the elevator shaft and having a bottom 39 which is attached to and rests on the reciprocating members 28. The conformation of the walls of the cab to the contour of the elevator shaft aid in maintaining the horizontal disposition of the cab. Solid vertical walls 32 extend from the bottom member on three sides thereof to define the sides of the cab. The fourth side of the cab has short walls 34, 35 to define an opening 22a therebetween and are associated with a pair of reciprocatingly mounted gate means 36, 37. The short walls 34, 35 preferably have hydraulic pistons 40, 41 mounted therein in the hollow portions 43, 44 thereof as illustrated in FIG- URE 5. As seen throughout the drawings, the elevator cab which I have illustrated in these drawings, is filled with water and the water contained therein can have its level maintained by either being drained through the bottom 30 by a valve shown diagrammatically as 44 or by means of having additional water fed thereto by the feed valve 46 which is mounted on one of the walls 32. To maintain the water level at a preselected height, a floating control mechanism 48 can be attached to one of the walls 32 as illustrated in FIGURE 3 to actuate the drainage valve 44 when the water level rises over a certain height or to actuate the feed valve 46 when the water level is not high enough. Thus the water level of the elevator cab can be maintained at the same height as the water level maintained in the upper levels of the boat harbor in order that quick and convenient entrance and egress of the boats can be obtained.

It will be seen from FIGURE 5 that the elevator shaft has openings 56, 52 at the first and second upper levels respectively and means for allowing water to enter the elevator cab 22 are provided by the elevator shaft gate means 54, 55 which are reciprocatingly mounted with hydraulic cylinders 57, 58 in the same fashion as the elevator cab gate means 36, 37. It will be noted that the walls 20 have hollow enclosures 20a at the locations where the pistons 57, 58 are disposed. An inflatable conduit sealing member 60 is associated with the elevator cab around the elevator cab gate means 36, 37 so that when the elevator cab reaches one of the levels, the same can be inflated to form a conduit between the elevator cab and shaft of the boat harbor. Thereafter when the gate means 54, 55 and 36, 37 are opened, water can flow between the cab and the body of water in the level where the cab is located.

Thus in operation, my multi-level boat harbor initially receives a boat by having the locking gates 36, 37 opened and by allowing the boat to be propelled through the opening 26 and into the elevator cab 22. Thereafter, the elevator cab gate means 36, 37 are closed and the elevator cab 22 is raised to one of the levels of the harbor. In FIGURE 2, the elevator cab 22 is illustrated as being raised to the upper level 10a. As the elevator cab is being raised, the water level therein is maintained constant by means of both the valve which is operated by a flotation mechanism 48 and the overflow valve 46. When. the elevator cab 22 reaches one of the upper levels of the harbor and has the elevator gate means 36, 37 aligned with one of the openings such as 56 of the boat harbor, the conduit sealing member 60 is inflated as illustrated in FIGURES 3, 4, 5, to provide a sealed conduit between the elevator cab and the elevator shaft. Thereafter, to gate means 35, 37 and 54, 55 are opened when the water level between the elevator cab and elevator shaft is established, a vessel located in the elevator cab can be propelled and floated out of the elevator cab and into the body of water contained by the upper level 10a of the boat harbor in order that it may be docked therein.

In FIGURE 6 I have illustrated that ascending and descending water instead of an elevator can be used for elevating vessels in the elevator shaft. This embodiment of the invention is described and claimed in my copending application entitled Multi-Level Boat Harbor, Ser. No. 595,230, filed Nov. 17, 1966, which is a division of the application.

It will thus be seen from an explanation of the operation of the preferred embodiments of my invention that I have fulfilled the objects of my invention in a remarkably unexpected fashion. By providing a multi-level harbor having water therein at different levels, I am able to solve the long existing problem of providing additional harbor facilities within a limited harbor area without mechanically removing a boat from water and thereafter storing the boat in drydock. Thus the prior methods and structures used in attempting to solve the problems herein solved by my invention, have been remarkably improved upon because of the increased convenience of handling the vessels in addition to increased storage space for the vessels.

Although I have shown specific constructions of my device, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes in the shape and contour may be made without aifecting the inventions operativeness, and I reserve the right to make such changes as I may deem convenient without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A multi-level boat harbor for conveniently and expeditiously storing boats in a limited harbor area comprising: at least one upper level that is formed to contain water therein, supporting means for supporting said one upper level above said water in said harbor area elevating means for raising boats from the water level of said harbor area to said upper level while retaining said boats in the water during the elevating process, said elevator means including an elevator shaft that extends vertically upward from at least the water level of said harbor area through said at least one upper level, said elevator shaft comprising water-filled elevator cab means, said cab means having side walls conforming to the contours of said elevator shaft to maintain said cab horizontally disposed, said shaft having an entrance and exit shaft openings for boats at the water level of said boat harbor and at said at least one upper level, elevator shaft gate means operatively associated with said shaft opening in said at least one upper level to selectively open and close said shaft openings, said elevator cab means having a cab opening, elevator cab gate means operatively associated with said cab opening to selectively open and close said elevator cab openings, whereby a boat can be elevated to and stored in said at least one upper level by initially loading a boat on said elevator cab by opening said elevator cab gate means, raising said elevator cab and thereafter unloading said boat by flotation after opening said elevator cab gate means.

2. A multi-level boat harbor, as defined in claim 1, wherein a conduit sealing means is operatively associated with said elevator cab, said conduit sealing means being associatable with said openings in said elevator shaft at said at least one upper level to form a conduit for the flow of water between said elevator cab and said openings in said at least one upper level of said elevator shaft when said gate means are opened.

3. A multi-level boat harbor, as defined in claim 2, wherein said elevator cab has means for regulating the level of said water therein in order to, among other things,

equalize the water level thereof with the water level of said at least one upper level.

4. A multi-level boat harbor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one upper level has means for maintaining the water levels thereof at a predetermined level.

5. A multi-level boat harbor, as defined in claim 1, wherein said conduit means is an inflatable sealing member that is attached to said elevator cab around said elevator cab opening and elevator gate means, whereby inflation of said sealing member causes said member to be forced against said elevator shaft to form a conduit for water to flow between said elevator cab and said elevator shaft at the openings thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Clarke 6168 Jebens 61-9 Lubowski 61--9 Hoech 619 Bennett et a1 6121 Waters 6121 Wilson et al. 61-63 Burnett 61--64 JACOB SHAPIRO, Primary Examiner. 

